The Ruling on the Military Salute
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Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
There has been a lot of talk, O honorable Shaykh, about the military salute and the salute to the flag, with some calling it an innovation and others declaring it disbelief. Two months ago, or a few months ago, the National Guard magazine published a bulletin explaining the military salute: its types, its origins, and its development.And among her words she said: Since the earliest ages of history, people have distinguished one man from another, and this was manifested by the invention of special methods of greeting, which soon became widespread and popular. Although the peoples of the world differ in their methods of greeting, they all agree on the obligation of performing it.
Until she said: And on other occasions, its purpose is to display security, peace, and respect.
So what is your opinion on this issue, in terms of whether it is an innovation or disbelief? And if it is an innovation, what is the ruling on one who performs it while being averse to it? May Allah reward you with good.
I say: And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
And I inform you that greeting with the salam when asking a question is not from the Sunnah; because the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to ask the Messenger of Allah in the assembly without greeting him. The salam is for when one meets someone.
As for what concerns the military salute,So I say to you, O my brothers! As advice for the sake of Allah: Any matter concerning a responsible authority, asking about it from individuals is not in its proper place.
Why? Because that accomplishes nothing.
Suppose I said: That it is an innovation, or disbelief, or open sinfulness, or something similar, does that benefit? This does not benefit, except that the person seeking a ruling takes this fatwa and goes to dispute it with the rulers, and he gains nothing from this.
So I see that if something wrong occurs in any responsible authority, it is not permissible to remain silent about it;Because remaining silent about what is wrong means: [for] neglecting enjoining good and forbidding evil; but houses are entered through their doors.
So this question is directed to whom? It is directed to the Minister of Defense, or the Minister of Interior, or the responsible authority.And it is said: If you know that this is forbidden, then fear Allah regarding us. Do not make us bear the burden of the forbidden, so that we sin and you sin. And if you do not see this as forbidden, then explain it to us.And if the matter is unclear to you: [Surah al-Nahl: 43] .
As for an individual soldier or army member asking this question, then taking the answer and making it a drawn sword, brandishing it whenever he wishes, I see that this is not wisdom, and that it accomplishes nothing, and does not benefit.
So this question should be directed by the sensible among you to the minister of this responsible authority.And it is said to him frankly: We and you are slaves of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and you are the one Allah has placed over us; so it is upon you to care for us with the best care.
Then we ask him: Do you see that this is forbidden? Then fear Allah in yourself, and fear Allah regarding us.
Do you see that it is lawful? Then explain it to us; because it has become unclear to us, and because some people—and I heard it with my own ears—Who says: [say] the military salute is disbelief, and I seek refuge in Allah, so they declare disbeliever one whom Allah and His Messenger have not declared a disbeliever. Did this person not know that he will be asked on the Day of Resurrection about what he said? Did he not know that one who calls a man a disbeliever when he is not is himself a disbeliever? This is how the hadith came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
So the matter is not trivial.So his describing a person and saying: This is a disbeliever, and this is an open sinner; so this is a mistake.
Who has the right to judge? Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If Allah declares someone a disbeliever, then he is a disbeliever, and if He does not, it is not permissible for us to declare disbelief based merely on our tastes and desires.
So I say: Say, for example, to the responsible minister: If you see that this is lawful, explain it to us; because some people have confused us,And he said: [saying] this is open sinfulness, this is an innovation, this is disbelief, so explain it to us.
And if it is unclear to you, praise be to Allah, the door of fatwa is open, and with the state, praise be to Allah, guidance is achieved, if Allah wills, so ask.
So if it is said to you: This is permissible, your conscience is clear.And if it is said: This is forbidden, so refrain from it.
This is my answer to this matter.
And I advise every person in these matters not to ask as an individual from a responsible authority about the ruling of a general matter, but to ask about himself and say, for example, if I do such and such, or if I pray without wudu.
There has been a lot of talk, O honorable Shaykh, about the military salute and the salute to the flag, with some calling it an innovation and others declaring it disbelief. Two months ago, or a few months ago, the National Guard magazine published a bulletin explaining the military salute: its types, its origins, and its development.And among her words she said: Since the earliest ages of history, people have distinguished one man from another, and this was manifested by the invention of special methods of greeting, which soon became widespread and popular. Although the peoples of the world differ in their methods of greeting, they all agree on the obligation of performing it.
Until she said: And on other occasions, its purpose is to display security, peace, and respect.
So what is your opinion on this issue, in terms of whether it is an innovation or disbelief? And if it is an innovation, what is the ruling on one who performs it while being averse to it? May Allah reward you with good.
I say: And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
And I inform you that greeting with the salam when asking a question is not from the Sunnah; because the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to ask the Messenger of Allah in the assembly without greeting him. The salam is for when one meets someone.
As for what concerns the military salute,So I say to you, O my brothers! As advice for the sake of Allah: Any matter concerning a responsible authority, asking about it from individuals is not in its proper place.
Why? Because that accomplishes nothing.
Suppose I said: That it is an innovation, or disbelief, or open sinfulness, or something similar, does that benefit? This does not benefit, except that the person seeking a ruling takes this fatwa and goes to dispute it with the rulers, and he gains nothing from this.
So I see that if something wrong occurs in any responsible authority, it is not permissible to remain silent about it;Because remaining silent about what is wrong means: [for] neglecting enjoining good and forbidding evil; but houses are entered through their doors.
So this question is directed to whom? It is directed to the Minister of Defense, or the Minister of Interior, or the responsible authority.And it is said: If you know that this is forbidden, then fear Allah regarding us. Do not make us bear the burden of the forbidden, so that we sin and you sin. And if you do not see this as forbidden, then explain it to us.And if the matter is unclear to you:
So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فَاسْأَلوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَAs for an individual soldier or army member asking this question, then taking the answer and making it a drawn sword, brandishing it whenever he wishes, I see that this is not wisdom, and that it accomplishes nothing, and does not benefit.
So this question should be directed by the sensible among you to the minister of this responsible authority.And it is said to him frankly: We and you are slaves of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and you are the one Allah has placed over us; so it is upon you to care for us with the best care.
Then we ask him: Do you see that this is forbidden? Then fear Allah in yourself, and fear Allah regarding us.
Do you see that it is lawful? Then explain it to us; because it has become unclear to us, and because some people—and I heard it with my own ears—Who says: [say] the military salute is disbelief, and I seek refuge in Allah, so they declare disbeliever one whom Allah and His Messenger have not declared a disbeliever. Did this person not know that he will be asked on the Day of Resurrection about what he said? Did he not know that one who calls a man a disbeliever when he is not is himself a disbeliever? This is how the hadith came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
So the matter is not trivial.So his describing a person and saying: This is a disbeliever, and this is an open sinner; so this is a mistake.
Who has the right to judge? Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If Allah declares someone a disbeliever, then he is a disbeliever, and if He does not, it is not permissible for us to declare disbelief based merely on our tastes and desires.
So I say: Say, for example, to the responsible minister: If you see that this is lawful, explain it to us; because some people have confused us,And he said: [saying] this is open sinfulness, this is an innovation, this is disbelief, so explain it to us.
And if it is unclear to you, praise be to Allah, the door of fatwa is open, and with the state, praise be to Allah, guidance is achieved, if Allah wills, so ask.
So if it is said to you: This is permissible, your conscience is clear.And if it is said: This is forbidden, so refrain from it.
This is my answer to this matter.
And I advise every person in these matters not to ask as an individual from a responsible authority about the ruling of a general matter, but to ask about himself and say, for example, if I do such and such, or if I pray without wudu.